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Microsoft partners with Lookout to boost mobile security offerings

Microsoft also makes investment in up-and-coming security company

Security company Lookout has partnered with Microsoft to integrate its Mobile Threat Protection service into the software firm's Enterprise Mobile Suite (EMS).

Microsoft said that adding Lookout’s security to EMS will help businesses operating in an increasingly mobile-first world to protect data and devices.

“Companies should harness the power of the intelligent cloud and mobile threat data to limit their exposure to potential security breaches,” said Brad Anderson, corporate vice president for Microsoft’s Enterprise Client & Mobility Group.

Microsoft has also made an unspecified financial investment in Lookout.

Jim Dolce, CEO of Lookout, said that mobility is becoming a central trend in business operations and that the deal with Microsoft is a good way to boost the reach of its product.

“Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, have become the primary computing platform and access point for our personal and work lives, as well as a valuable target for attackers,” he said.

“The business agility provided by mobile computing will continue to drive adoption, despite the security risks involved. Lookout and Microsoft empower businesses to embrace the productivity benefits of mobile devices while addressing the security risks.”

"When mobile threats are detected, the integration between Lookout and Microsoft’s EMS will give IT and security teams the ability to take action and protect data across devices and applications," the firm said.

"Teams will also be able to use threat intelligence from Lookout to set policies. This helps everyone manage and secure access to cloud and on-premise applications, as well as to selectively wipe corporate data from devices."

The partnership follows a series of major hacks and data dumps at high-profile companies such as LinkedIn, Myspace and Russian social media site VK.com, which had 100 million credentials stolen.